Self adjusting support clip for finned tube baseboard radiators

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a support clip for a fin tube baseboard radiator assembly. The clip comprises a U-shaped member having inclined sidewalls which have inwardly extending protrusions on the top inner surface of the sidewalls for coacting with a channel or ridge formed by a plurality of fins located about a heating pipe.

United States Patent Limoni June 26, 1973 SELF-ADJUSTING SUPPORT CLIP FOR FINNED TUBE BASEBOARD RADIATORS Primary Examiner-Charles k l [75] Inventor: Uri Limoni, Hauppauge, N.Y. Attorney-Arthur new [73] Assignee: The Slant/Fin Corporation,

Greenvale, NY.

22 Filed: July 21, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 1644562 There is disclosed a support clip for a fin tube baseboard radiator assembly. The clip comprises a U- [52] US. Cl. 165/55, 165/181 h p member having inclined sidewalls which have [5 1 Int. Cl. F2411 9/04 a y xt nding protrusio s n the top inner surface [58] Field of Search 161/55, 67, 68, 181, of h i w ll f r coacting with a channel or ridge 161 186 formed by a plurality of fins located about a heating pipe.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1969 Yehle 165/55 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mim umzs ms 3.741. 291

INVENTOR Uri Limoni The present invention relates to finned tubed baseboard heating apparatus and more particularly to a supporting clip for use in such apparatus.

Baseboard radiators commonly include an enclosure and a fin and tube heat exchanger in the enclosure. The conventional systems employ a plurality of fins mounted at relatively closely spaced intervals along the length of the tube, through which tube the heating medium is circulated.

The temperature of the heating medium changes cyclically, as heating is called for and interrupted under thermostatic control. Due to the cyclic nature of the heating system, the fins and the tube are subjected to thermal forces which cause expansion and contraction of the assembly.

These thermal forces cause motion of the assembly which motion results in a dragging or scraping of the fin surfaces across the surfaces of brackets which support the entire assembly. The consequent motion caused scraping noises, pings and various other acoustical disturbances.

The problem, indicated above, has been noted in the prior art and there exists a number of apparatus which attempt to solve the same. Such apparatus involve relatively complex structures which are difficult to fabricate and many of which are marginalin operation.

Such prior art attempts incorporate plastic clips which surround the tube assembly and have projecting members integral with the clip for snapping in between the spaces formed between the fins. These structures are relatively difficult to fabricate and install, and can dislodge during the thermal heating and expansion process.

Still other embodiments require that notches be fabricated at each edge of the fin structure. These notches are then adapted to receive an elongated plastic runner member which snaps" into such notches. The runner then serves to prevent noise. However, the only function of such notches is to accommodate the runner.

Other approaches utilize plastic runners which are glued onto the side edges of the fin assemblies or glued into notches formed on the side surfaces of the finned assemblies. Such approaches requirecareful alignment of the finned assembly, utilize high temperature glues and, in general, require excessive time and labor in fabrication.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved clip assembly which can be snapped onto a fin tube heating assembly in a simple, efficient manner, while providing improved quieting operation for the entire system.

These and other objects of the present invention employ a U-shaped clip member having the inner surfaces of the sidewalls which face each other slightly inclined with respect to a perpendicular line through the sidewalls, the top portions of the sidewalls protrude inwardly for coaction with a corresponding protrusion on the side surfaces of said finned tube assembly, the sidewalls and protrusions thereon being dimensioned to permit said U-shaped member to be secured to said finned tube assembly and to slide with respect thereto during expansion and contraction of said assembly when subjected to varying temperatures.

Still further and more detailed objects of the invention will be described when reference is made to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying FIGURES in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fin assembly utilized in a baseboard heating apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a fin assembly incorporating a support clip according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the clip and fin assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred form of a fin 10 which is useful in a baseboard heating system. The fin l0 possesses a particular formation so that when a plurality of the same are assembled on a pipe each fin supports-each other and the combination thus adds strength through the particular assembly. The individual fins 10, as is known, can therefore be fabricated of lighter weight material while in the assembly they present greater resistance to distortion than do fins of other configurations. Examples of alternate construc'tions and arrangements of similar fin devices as shown in FIG. 1 can be bad if reference is made to U.S.

Pat. No. 2,899,178 entitled Heat Exchange Fins and Assembly and issued on Aug. ll, 1959 to Melvin Dubin and Isadore Turinsky'and assigned to The Slant/- Fin Radiator Corporation, a predecessor of the assignee herein.

The fin 10 has a main portion '2 formed to extend at right-angles to the pipe receiving it. At one pair of opposite edges, the main portion 2 is bent backwardly in identical turned back strips 3. The bending taking place about a crease line 4. At the end of the turned back strips 3 remote from the crease line 4, the material is further bent about a line 5 into narrow inturned strips 6. The angle included between strips 6 and the strips 3 is usually smaller than the angle included between the strips 3 and the main portion 2.

The fin has a relatively circular aperture 7 of a diameter' large enough to encircle a pipe. The pipe in such a baseboard system is utilized to accommodate a heat conducting medium such as water or some other fluid. The aperture 7 is such as to enable the fin to be fitted about the periphery of the pipe for which it is intended, with a reasonable amount of drag but free enough to enable the fins to be applied to the pipe without injury. This feature is enhanced by the inclusion of a flange ll drawn outwardly around the opening so that each fin has a surface rather than an edge contact with the pipe.

Each fin is also provided with fingers 12 or other suitable projections each of which extends out from the flange 1 l. The fingers 12 as shown in thisparticular example constitute four in number at equally spaced positions around the opening 10. It is to be understood, however, that the number and shape of the fingers is merely for purposes of illustrations and variations and modifications may be effected accordingly.

The fingers l2 besides adding to the engagement of thefin with the pipe aid in the accurate locating and the maintenance of the opening of one fin with respect to the other. This particular aspect of the fin structure and operation of the fingers and the assembly will be made clearer if reference is made to the above-noted patent.

Each of the rearwardly extending portions of the fin assembly contain a slot 14. These slots or windows are punched or otherwise fabricated and are present in each fin element. The purpose of these slots is to provide spaces to permit air to pass through the sides as 3 well as from the top to bottom of the heat exchanger assembly employing the fins. These slots or windows 14 therefore permit unrestricted air flow and serveto in- I crease the overall efficiency of the baseboard heatjexchanger assembly. a

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown the fin" assembly coacting with a suitable pipe memberrlS. The pipe 15 receives a heated fluid such as waterwhich is circulated therethroughaccording to a thermostatic.

control. In this manner, similar to any heating system, 7

the pipe 15 and the entire fin assembly is subjected to varying temperatures. These temperaturescreate thermal expansions and contractions in the material which cause the entire assembly to move. The fins are constructed from a heat conducting material, as a suitable metal, as is the pipe. A heat exchanger assembly comprises a plurality of fins coupled together as shown in FIG. 4 and is supported by means of brackets such as 20 of FIG. 5. These brackets 20 in essence'serve to lift the assembly or maintain the assembly at some desired position above a floor or wall and so on. The brackets as 20 provide local support at a number ofspaced points along the fin and tube heat exchanger unit. If the assembly 21 which essentially is of a U-shaped or channel configuration. The U-shaped member or-channel fins were permitted to rest upon the brackets without 21 has two sidewalls 22 and 23. The inner surface of the sidewalls are slightly inclined with respecttothe perpendicular line 25 drawn through the center of FIG. 2. The inner surface in essence possessesa sawtooth line configuration and is furthest away from the side of the fin at the bottom of the sidewall andclosest tothe fin at the top of the sidewall. Each sidewall of member 21 has an inwardly extending projection 25 located on the inner surface near the top most portion. As shown in FIG. 2, the projection 25 serves to coact' withthe channel formed by the appropriate surface of the windows 14 located in each fin assembly. This therefore permits the clip 21 to be snapped onto the fins. The

special sawtooth design of the leading edge of the inner surface of the clip member will prevent the clipfrom falling off.

Referring to FIG. 3, the clip assembly as ,coacting with the heat exchanger assembly comprising the plurality of fins 10. and the there is shown a bottom view of 2 pipe 15. The clip member 21 has a relatively large aperture 30 in the bottom portion which aperture whole 30 permits the free circulation of air.

Referring to FIGS, it is shown that the clip member 21 has two stop rnembers 26 and 27 emenating from the bottom surface of the U-shaped channel member 21. These stop members 26 and 27are rib-like structures which may be integrally formed with the clip 21.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the clip 21 is snapped onto the fin assembly at a predetermined location such that a supporting bracket 20 is located between the two stop I ribs 26 and 27. As is well known, the support bracket assemblies. v g In summation, there is disclosed a self-adjusting clip useful with a baseboard heating system includinga pluis usually secured to a wall or other fixed structure and is stationary with respect to the heat exchanger unit.

The clip structure 21 as securedtothe fin'assembly will slide with respect to thefm assembly during expansion and contraction of theassembly; The motion of the clip 21 is limited by thestop members 26 and 27. The clip 21 can thereforelslide a distance to the right or to the left limited only by the coaction of the inner surface of.

a stop memberas 26 or 27' against the surface of the bracket 20. Therefore, if the clip when inserted or snapped o ntoth e unit is at a desired or perfect position during the heatirlgprocess as the fin tubeas sembly moves, the ribs or stop members 26 and 27will coact with the bracketand stop the motion. The clip 21 will not movefurthe r butit will still permit thefin tube assembly to slidefreely therein. This action will actually reposition the clip tothe proper position and isself-' adjusting. The clip islpreferably fabricated from heat resistance plasticsuch as a polypropylene, polyethyl" ene, or nylon; The width of the bracket is such that the bracket ,coacts with the clip21 on the plastic surface. thereof and is isolated from the f ns 10 by the thickness of the bottom section of the clip member 21. Therefore, thebracket 20 coacts with the clip material and not the fins, thusavoiding the attendant noise. This particular clip arrangement asindicated is simple tofabricate and requires no additional machining operation to be associated with the fin tube assembly, as the windows exist to permit air circulation.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a top plurality of fins 10 secured to a pipe 15. The arrow in the lower right hand corner of FIG. 4 shows the relative movement of the clip 21: on the track or channel of the fin u formed by the separate windows 14 in each rality of fins having rearwardly bent opposite edges with a window located on each of the bent edge sections. These windows thus forming a continuous chan-j nel along the side of the fin assembly. The clip having inclined -inner. surfaces and inwardly projecting ridges serves to coact with thechannel thus formed by the windows to thereby be secured to the fin assembly and further adapted to slide .with respect thereto during thermal heating and expansion.

2 What is claimed is f v V 1. Inaheat exchange apparatus of the type including a pipe and a plurality of fins carried by said pipe, said fins each including a main portion and extending por tions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion,

said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and 'said extending portions being turned away from said mainportion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each, aperture of said plurality is aligned to form. a, channel, in combination therewithapparatus providing a c lip for use in supporting said heat exchange apparatus, comprising u a. a U-shaped channel member having two sidewalls in thesame plane,.each of said sidewalls further having inwardly extending projections facing each other and adapted to .slideably coact with said channel formed by said plurality of fins to thereby secure said U-shaped channel member to said heat exchange apparatus, said sidewalls having an inner surfacewith; aslope ofa sawtooth lineconfiguraview of a f tion so that the inner surface is furthest away from said fin at the bottom and closest to said fin at the top, whereby said channel member forms a mounting surface for said heat exchange apparatus, while permitting said channel member to slide with respect to said fins during expansion and contraction of said fins.

2. The combination according to claim 1 whereby said U-shaped channel member is fabricated from a plastic such as polypropylene.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped channel member further includes at least one projection extending from the surface of said member opposite to that containing said sidewalls to serve as a stop member when engaged by a supporting bracket.

4. A self-adjusting clip for use in supporting finned tubed heating elements, comprising,

a. a pipe and a plurality of fins carried by said pipe,

said fins each including a main portion and extending portions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion, said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and said extending portions being turned away from said main portion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each aperture of said plurality is aligned to form a channel.

b. a base member having a surface with an aperture located thereon, a first and a second sidewall located on opposite sides of said member and protruding from said surface in the same relatively perpendicular direction, the surfaces of said sidewalls that are facing each other being inclined with respect to a perpendicular line through said surface and at an angle to accommodate the side portions of said finned tubed heating elements, the top portion of said sidewalls furthest from said bottom member forming a ridge for coacting with said channel located on said opposed surfaces of said finned tube elements for securing said clip member to said finned tube elements while permitting said clip to slide with respect to said elements during expansion and contraction of said elements when subjected to varying temperatures 5. A clip for use in supporting finned tube heating elements comprising,

a. a pipe and a pluralityof fins carried by said pipe,

said fins each including a main portion and extending portions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion, said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and said extending portions being turned away from said main portion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each aperture of said plurality is aligned to form a channel.

b. a U-shaped member having the inner surfaces of the sidewalls which face each other slightly inclined with respect to a perpendicular line through said sidewalls, the top portions of said inner surfaces of said sidewalls protruding inwardly for coacting with said corresponding channel on the side surfaces of said finned heating elements, said sidewalls and said protrusions dimensioned to permit said U-shaped member to be secured to said finned tube elements and to slide with respect to said finned tube heating elements during expansion and contraction of said elements when subjected to varying temperatures.

6. The clip according to claim 5 wherein said surface of said U-shaped member contiguous with said sidewalls has an aperture located thereon to permit heat stored in said finned tube members to circulate when said clip is coacting with said assembly.

7. The clip according to claim 5 wherein said bottom surface of said U-shaped member has at least one stop member projecting therefrom in a direction opposite to said sidewalls and adapted'to operate as a stop by contacting a side surface of a bracket assembly used in supporting the finned tube assembly.

8. A clip apparatus for use with a baseboard heating system of the type employing a heating assembly including a central heat medium conducting pipe surrounded by a plurality of fin type heating elements, each of said elements being fabricated in a manner to provide a ridge along the side surface of said fins and relatively parallel to the length of said pipe, comprising,

a. a member having a surface and two sidewalls located on opposite sides of said member and extending inthe same relatively perpendicular direction from said surface, said sidewalls having inner surfaces facing each other and being inclined with respect to said perpendicular line, and a top portion of said sidewalls furthest removed from said bottom member forming a ridge for coacting with a corresponding portion of said ridge of said fin type heating elements for slideably securing said clip to said finned tube elements to permit said clip to move in a direction parallel to said pipe when said elements are subjected to varying temperatures.

9. The clip apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said baseboard heating apparatus further comprises,

a. va bracket for securing said heating assembly at a desired location, said bracket serving to support the same above a reference level by coacting with said bottom surface of said clip when said clip is coacting with said finned tube elements, and

b. a stop member protruding from said bottom surface of said clip member in a direction opposite to said sidewalls and having a surface adapted to en gage said bracket when said clip slides a predetermined amount. 

1. In a heat exchange apparatus of the type including a pipe and a plurality of fins carried by said pipe, said fins each including a main portion and extending portions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion, said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and said extending portions being turned away from said main portion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each aperture of said plurality is aligned to form a channel, in combination therewith apparatus providing a clip for use in supporting said heat exchange apparatus, comprising, a. a U-shaped channel member having two sidewalls in the same plane, each of said sidewalls further having inwardly extending projections facing each other and adapted to slideably coact with said channel formed by said plurality of fins to thereby secure said U-shaped channel member to said heat exchange apparatus, said sidewalls having an inner surface with a slope of a sawtooth line configuration so that the inner surface is furthest away from said fin at the bottom and closest to said fin at the top, whereby said channel member forms a mounting surface for said heat exchange apparatus, while permitting said channel member to slide with respect to said fins during expansion and contraction of said fins.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 whereby said U-shaped channel member is fabricated from a plastic such as polypropylene.
 3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped channel member further includes at least one projection extending from the surface of said member opposite to that containing said sidewalls to serve as a stop member when engaged by a supporting bracket.
 4. A self-adjusting clip for use in supporting finned tubed heating elements, comprising, a. a pipe and a plurality of fins carried by said pipe, said fins each including a main portion and extending portions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion, said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and said extending portions being turned away from said main portion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each aperture of said plurality is aligned to form a channel. b. a base member having a surface with an aperture located thereon, a first and a second sidewall located on opposite sides of said member and protruding from said surface in the same relatively perpendicular direction, the surfaces of said sidewalls that aRe facing each other being inclined with respect to a perpendicular line through said surface and at an angle to accommodate the side portions of said finned tubed heating elements, the top portion of said sidewalls furthest from said bottom member forming a ridge for coacting with said channel located on said opposed surfaces of said finned tube elements for securing said clip member to said finned tube elements while permitting said clip to slide with respect to said elements during expansion and contraction of said elements when subjected to varying temperatures.
 5. A clip for use in supporting finned tube heating elements comprising, a. a pipe and a plurality of fins carried by said pipe, said fins each including a main portion and extending portions at a pair of opposed sides of said main portion, said main portion being formed to receive and engage said pipe and said extending portions being turned away from said main portion at a given angle, each fin having an aperture located on said extending portions, whereby each aperture of said plurality is aligned to form a channel. b. a U-shaped member having the inner surfaces of the sidewalls which face each other slightly inclined with respect to a perpendicular line through said sidewalls, the top portions of said inner surfaces of said sidewalls protruding inwardly for coacting with said corresponding channel on the side surfaces of said finned heating elements, said sidewalls and said protrusions dimensioned to permit said U-shaped member to be secured to said finned tube elements and to slide with respect to said finned tube heating elements during expansion and contraction of said elements when subjected to varying temperatures.
 6. The clip according to claim 5 wherein said surface of said U-shaped member contiguous with said sidewalls has an aperture located thereon to permit heat stored in said finned tube members to circulate when said clip is coacting with said assembly.
 7. The clip according to claim 5 wherein said bottom surface of said U-shaped member has at least one stop member projecting therefrom in a direction opposite to said sidewalls and adapted to operate as a stop by contacting a side surface of a bracket assembly used in supporting the finned tube assembly.
 8. A clip apparatus for use with a baseboard heating system of the type employing a heating assembly including a central heat medium conducting pipe surrounded by a plurality of fin type heating elements, each of said elements being fabricated in a manner to provide a ridge along the side surface of said fins and relatively parallel to the length of said pipe, comprising, a. a member having a surface and two sidewalls located on opposite sides of said member and extending in the same relatively perpendicular direction from said surface, said sidewalls having inner surfaces facing each other and being inclined with respect to said perpendicular line, and a top portion of said sidewalls furthest removed from said bottom member forming a ridge for coacting with a corresponding portion of said ridge of said fin type heating elements for slideably securing said clip to said finned tube elements to permit said clip to move in a direction parallel to said pipe when said elements are subjected to varying temperatures.
 9. The clip apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said baseboard heating apparatus further comprises, a. a bracket for securing said heating assembly at a desired location, said bracket serving to support the same above a reference level by coacting with said bottom surface of said clip when said clip is coacting with said finned tube elements, and b. a stop member protruding from said bottom surface of said clip member in a direction opposite to said sidewalls and having a surface adapted to engage said bracket when said clip slides a predetermined amount. 